First medical marijuana license in Colombia
The Colombian Ministry of Health has granted the first license for the production of medicinal marijuana for export, domestic trade or research to the Canadian company PharmaCielo.
Jon Ruiz, president and general manager of the company, stated that "Our goal is to become the largest suppliers of naturally grown cannabis oil extracts, and there is no better place to do this than in Colombia.".
This license permits the manufacture of derivatives such as extracts, oils, or resins, but not cultivation. Pharmacielo must then apply to the National Narcotics Council for final authorization to plant the plants. This procedure is followed so that companies can explain to the Council how they intend to use the plants.
For the time being, the company will start production on three hectares in Rionegro and will gradually expand the territory.
Since May, seven license applications have been received, and two of these will be granted to small producers in the coming days, while the rest remain under review. Large companies will have to meet stricter safety requirements than small and local businesses, thus providing farmers with an alternative to illicit crops.
Colombia joins countries such as Chile, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, the United States, the Netherlands, the Czech Republic, and Israel, where the use of marijuana for therapeutic purposes has been approved.
Fountain: The Country